How This Atlanta Startup Is Smashing Barriers to Real Estate Investment Through Crowdfunding

How This Atlanta Startup Is Smashing Barriers to Real Estate Investment Through Crowdfunding

Creating opportunity

This Atlanta Fintech Startup Keeps Money Moving on Main Street

Editor’s Note: This story first appeared on Small Business Nation. Welcome back to our Small Business Spotlight series, where we profile innovative small businesses and startups across the country and identify lessons from their operations, strategies, and growth. Our newest profile takes a look at Kabbage, an Atlanta-based financial technology company that launched in 2009. Kabbage offers a fully automated financing platform that allows small businesses and online merchants to apply for short-term loans. While traditional lenders rely on income statements and tax records to assess creditworthiness, Kabbage uses data from online businesses and financial service accounts. Borrowing decisions are determined within minutes of applying and funds are available on the spot. Kabbage began making its first loans to online merchants in 2011 and extended its lending to all small businesses—including brick-and-mortar operations—in February 2014. The company was named one of Forbes’ Most Promising Companies for the second year in a row in 2015. To date, […]

This Atlanta Fintech Startup Keeps Money Moving on Main Street

True innovation

Tech isn’t just for the boys: How Atlanta is rebooting diversity

The tech industry is no longer just a boy’s club. For years the industry has been lambasted (for good reason) over its lack of diversity and gender discrimination. For instance, a recent diversity report interviewed over 200 women in tech and found that 47 percent have been asked to do lower-level tasks (e.g., note-taking, ordering food, etc.) that male colleagues were not asked to do while 66 percent of women felt left out from important networking events because of their gender. But the tide seems to be turning, and one place you can see this happening is in burgeoning tech hubs like Atlanta. The city’s diverse demographics make the metropolis the perfect place to promote diversity. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the country, industry advocates and concentrated efforts by a few companies—such as Slack and the Magic Johnson-backed recruiting firm Jopwell—are working behind the scenes to change the face of tech, recognizing […]

Tech isn’t just for the boys: How Atlanta is rebooting diversity

America at work

How Atlanta Became the Hollywood of the South

Hollywood has a rival in the Deep South. From television series such as The Walking Dead and The Vampire Diaries to movies like The Hunger Games, Ride Along 2 and Identify Thief, plenty of familiar scenes have been filmed in the city, which until recently was probably more widely known for its Southern hospitality and musical heritage. Yet the movie industry’s recent interest in the city is no accident. “You have to look at the tax advantage that’s been offered by the state of Georgia. That’s the number one thing,” says Whit Norris, an Atlanta-based sound mixer and vice-president of the city’s union group, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local (IATSE) 479. “It’s become the Hollywood of the South for many people.” Discover more Silicon Cities on Free Enterprise Georgia offers a lucrative tax credit of up to 30 percent for television, digital and movie productions via its Entertainment […]

How Atlanta Became the Hollywood of the South

Creating opportunity | Silicon Cities

Hot Startups Are Heating Up Atlanta

Atlanta is heating up, and we’re not just talking about the weather. The southern city famous for its musical talent and humid climate is attracting more and more tech companies from across the country, thanks to a low cost of living and a growing number of financial opportunities. “It used to be that you would see talent leave and go to [Silicon] Valley, but that doesn’t happen anymore,” says Adam Harrell, co-founder of digital startup Nebo Agency. “Now talent stays here, builds companies here, recruits here, and it works really well.” The entrepreneur, who also acts as executive director of Startup Atlanta, started his business in the city 11 years ago and has seen it grow and change over the years, thanks to an influx of Fortune 500 companies and profitable startups. The region has seen a 19 percent increase in the number of high-tech jobs between 2003 and […]

An Atlanta Company That Makes & Sells Sound

An Atlanta Company That Makes & Sells Sound

America at work

After Many Ups—and a Lot of Downs—This Atlanta-Based, Family-Run Company Shows What It Takes to Succeed in Business

Family run businesses require a lot of work, but Aquarama Pools is a story that swims against the tide. The water hasn’t always been calm, but a second and upcoming third generation of Shearer family progeny have managed to weather the effects of stormy seas.

After Many Ups—and a Lot of Downs—This Atlanta-Based, Family-Run Company Shows What It Takes to Succeed in Business

America at work

Giving Tuesday: How This California Music Tech Startup Gives the Gift of Hearing

For every pair of headphones social entrepreneur Bridget Hilton sells through her startup LSTN, she helps restore hearing to someone in need.

Giving Tuesday: How This California Music Tech Startup Gives the Gift of Hearing

Doing good

You’ll Never Guess the Wacky Names These Famous Companies and Brands Once or Could Have Had (Quiz)

Think you know what these top brands and businesses were originally named — or could have been named? Take this fun quiz to find out!

You’ll Never Guess the Wacky Names These Famous Companies and Brands Once or Could Have Had (Quiz)